18 February, 2009

Copywrong Song






If you are wondering about all the blackouts it is in response to section 92A of the copyright act due to be passed into law on 28th February.


It's an over response to illegal downloading, piracy in other words.


You download in breech of copyright and your ISP cuts you off, in theory.


The problem is that not only will it target those downloading music and videos willy nilly but threatens to cut of Internet service to libraries, universities and any place that allows public Internet access.


Anybody who copies a newspaper article onto a group or blog for discussion purposes will also be in breech of this new law. Anybody who has been involved in such discussions knows that just posting a link in seldom enough. The articles get pulled from news sites too fast.


More than one MSN Group found the plug being pulled over copyright breeches. This legislation threatens to do more than that.


There is currently a fine line between freedom of speech and copyright infringement. Section 92A doesn't just clarify it. It tramples right over it an grinds freedom of speech into the mud.

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